Ban Ki-Moon Prepares to End His Term as U.N. Chief

Ban Ki-moon will finish his term as Secretary-General of the United Nations at the end of December. He spoke with VOA recently about his 10 years as the U.N’s top official. As Secretary-General, Ban has traveled the world trying to prevent and end conflicts. He has campaigned in support of development and to reduce the effects of climate change. He also has met with refugees, victims of natural disasters and the leaders of many countries. Ban says historians will be asked to judge his years as the U.N.’s chief. He is very satisfied with his efforts to end poverty. “I’m confident that by 2030, all the people will be in a much better way in living in a healthier, more prosperous, and more peaceful world. This is my hope.” Ban is also pleased with diplomatic efforts leading to the Paris Climate Accord, which took effect in November. The agreement is designed to help fight rising temperatures. “It required a lot of political mobilization and it required building, forging a stronger partnership and raising the awareness of the government leaders and business leaders and civil societies.” Under Ban’s leadership, the United Nations has worked to improve women’s rights and end the use of execution as punishment for criminal activity. The U.N. has also fought violence and discrimination against members of the LGBT community. But Ban says there is much work still to be done. “When it comes to continuing crisis in Syria and elsewhere -- South Sudan, Yemen, Central African Republic and elsewhere -- we have to show unity of purpose and solidarity for the people. Often I have been shocked by the lack of empathy of some world leaders.” Before becoming Secretary-General, Ban served as South Korea’s foreign minister. He is worried about the increasing tension between South and North Korea. The tension has resulted from the North’s nuclear and missile tests. Ban tried to go to North Korea last year, but the country’s leaders cancelled his visit just before he was to arrive. “It was a unilateral cancellations. I really tried to do whatever I can to contribute -- to first of all reduction of tensions on (the) Korean peninsula and also promote reconciliation between the two parts of Korea.” Many people have talked about what Ban will do after the end of his term as Secretary-General. He is 72 years old. But he has a lot of energy and is known to work long days. Some observers believe he will campaign for the South Korean presidency in 2017. The country’s current president was recently impeached. If she leaves office, a new presidential election could take place soon. Ban says South Korea has, in his words, “resilient and mature” democratic institutions. He believes the country will survive the current crisis. He would not confirm or deny that he plans to campaign for the presidency. “When I become a civilian, private citizen, then I’ll have to discuss this matter with the leaders of Korean society, my friends, my family.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.    VOA United Nations Correspondent Margaret Besheer reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prosperous – adj. having success usually by making a lot of money forge – v. to form or create (something, such as an agreement or relationship) through great effort LGBT – acronym lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender empathy – n. the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions; the ability to share someone else’s feelings unilateral – adj. involving only one group or country; action taken by one side of a dispute without the agreement of the other side or sides promote – v. to help (something) happen, develop or increase reconciliation – n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement impeach – v. to charge (a public official) with a crime done while in office resilient – adj. able to become strong, healthy or successful again after something bad happens

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NASA Developing Food Bars for Mars Flights

  When astronauts go to the planet Mars years from now, they will need the right food to stay strong and healthy. At NASA, the American space agency, scientists are working to create food products that provide nutrition without weighing down the spacecraft. For the first step to Mars, NASA plans to send astronauts past the moon on what are called deep space missions. They will travel in the Orion spacecraft, which has limited space for food and other supplies. This is different from the International Space Station (ISS). Its crew members can choose from about 200 food products. Another difference is that Orion’s flights into deep space will not involve other vehicles carrying supplies, or taking away trash. The Orion crew will have to take everything they need with them, and then bring everything back home. Limit to what can fly on Orion Going past the moon means NASA must limit the mass on Orion. That is because a heavier spacecraft needs more fuel and energy to get to where it needs to go. But astronauts need to eat, so for now, NASA is developing breakfast food bars. Food adds weight to the spacecraft, explains NASA engineer Jessica Vos. “When you have 700 to 900 calories of something, it’s going to have some mass regardless of what shape it’s in,” she said. “So we’ve taken a look at how to get some mass savings by reducing how we’re packaging and stowing what the crew would eat for breakfast for early Orion flights with crew.” “When you think about multi-week missions in Orion, having just one package for breakfast items for crew will help us limit the space we need to store them.” Sometimes Americans eat a protein bar instead of a meal. NASA says the bars available now are not good enough. “There’s no commercially-available bar right now that meets our needs. So we’ve had to go design something that will work for the crew, while trying to achieve a multi-year shelf life,” said Takiyah Sirmons, a food scientist. She works with the Advanced Food Technology team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Her team is working on developing different flavors, like orange cranberry and barbecue nut. Different choices for other meals For other meals, Orion’s crew will be able to choose from meals similar to what the ISS crew members eat. On the ISS, astronauts have a choice of foods. Some are “thermostabilized,” which means they are heat processed to destroy harmful microorganisms and enzymes. Other foods are rehydratable -- the water in the food is removed before a space flight. It saves on weight. Then, when the astronaut wants to eat, water is added back into the food. The Orion crews will have a food warmer to heat up their meals. Also important for the food scientists is to know how the food bars will affect the mental and emotional health of the astronauts. Food choice and taste are important in making sure the crew eats enough. This will become more important as the length of the trip increases. That includes the expected 6 to 8 months it will take to travel to the Red Planet. Spacecraft to Mars in design NASA officials do not plan to use the Orion spacecraft to get there, but a larger spacecraft in which astronauts can live and work. Six companies are now designing such a vehicle for the space agency. Astronauts have been testing the food bars at the Johnson Space Center. They are providing comments about their taste, how they feel and how long they would want to eat these foods. This helps the scientists decide the right foods for the long space missions in the future. But bars will not be enough for trips to Mars. NASA is also working on developing ways to feed the crew on the long missions. Astronauts on the ISS are growing vegetables in space for the third time. Their experiments will help scientists decide the best way to grow food in space in the future. The year 2021 is when Orion will launch its first mission with a crew. They will leave the Earth on a Space Launch System rocket now being developed. NASA plans to get people to Mars by the 2030s. I’m Anne Ball. And I'm Phil Dierking.   This story was reported by VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trash – n. items already used, to be thrown away stow – v. to pack or store carefully and neatly commercially-available – adj. something that can be bought in a store or market shelf life – n. the length of time food may be stored and still be good to eat mission – n. a task or flight that someone is given to do

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Researchers Develop Long-Term, Drug Release Capsule

  Researchers have developed a long-lasting capsule that, when swallowed, slowly releases medicine into the body. The researchers say the capsule was developed for treatment of the disease malaria. But they believe it could hold medicines for a number of health problems. Once inside the stomach, the plastic capsule opens up to release the drug in small, measured amounts. The plastic is designed to resist the stomach’s acidic environment. The device breaks down after about two weeks and is expelled with waste products. At that time, a patient would swallow another drug-containing capsule. Researchers have tested capsules filled with the drug ivermectin on pigs and dogs. Ivermectin is used to treat parasitic organisms. It kills mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite. Scientists are now designing a program to test the capsule in people next year. The scientists work with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts. They decided to test ivermectin because of what they saw when it was used to treat river blindness in Africa. Many people there have malaria infections. Ninety percent of malaria cases worldwide happen in countries south of the Sahara Desert. Researcher Giovanni Traverso works at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “What was observed was that malaria would transiently drop. And so what we proposed was, you know, ‘what if we could increase the period of time during which individuals could have ivermectin in their system really to help suppress the mosquito population in those regions?’” Researchers say the capsule could possibly be filled with ivermectin and another drug to decrease the number of malaria infections. The World Health Organization says only about half of people in the West and 30 percent of those in developing countries take their medicine every day when told by doctors to do so. A computer model estimates that the capsule could increase that number to 70 percent. Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Andrew Bellinger agrees. “You can take advantage of the fact that patients don’t have to be reminded every day that they need to take their medicine. They can remember once a week to take their medicine and then live normally the rest of the time.” Researchers say the capsule could be used to treat emotional disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular and kidney diseases.  A study on the capsule and its development was published in the journal, Science Translational Medicine. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.     Jessica Berman wrote this story for VOANews. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   capsule – n. a very small container that is filled with medicine and swallowed whole acidic – adj. of or related to the qualities of an acid parasite – adj. of or related to an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant and gets food or protection from it transiently – adv. not lasting long region – n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way gradually – adv. moving or changing in small amounts; happening in a slow way over a long period of time dissolve – v. to mix with a liquid and become part of the liquid  

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Can You Start a Technology Company Outside of Silicon Valley?

  You might think the only place to set up a technology company in the United States is California. After all, Northern California has Silicon Valley, which is home to companies like Apple and Google. One expert on new business agrees Silicon Valley is a great place to launch a tech company. But he wonders if someone with a great idea cannot move there, does that person have a chance to be successful? Scott Shane is a professor of economics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He teaches classes on starting up a tech company and makes small investments in new businesses. Shane says a place like Palo Alto, California has many desirable qualities compared to a city in another area. First, a high-tech company in Palo Alto will have an easier time finding people experienced in writing complex computer programs. He adds that the company also will have an easy time finding investors. The most difficult decision will be deciding which investors to work with. “The biggest pro for entrepreneurship in a place like Silicon Valley or San Francisco is the density of the activity. So if you are looking for a seed-stage investment, literally you would trip over tens of seed-stage venture capitalists on your way to get a coffee in San Francisco...” Shane says the San Francisco area may have as many as 1,000 venture capitalists. They take money from investors and use it to help finance new businesses. He says there may be only three or four venture capitalists in some major cities, such as Cleveland; Detroit, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska; and Madison, Wisconsin. But, Shane says, new companies in a place like Omaha are better at some things than businesses in California. For example, companies in Omaha spend less money for office space and on paying workers. That means a new company does not have to worry about running out of money before it perfects its product. In California, office space can be costly, with workers demanding high pay. People interested in opening a technology business do not have a lot of time to perfect their product. Investors who want to earn a profit on their money sometimes push new companies into bringing out a product before it is ready. In Detroit, businesses can take a little more time getting started before looking for outside investment. Shane says such companies can be good targets for investors because they have already faced some of the difficulties common to new businesses.  VOA spoke with officials at two start-up companies: CityInsight, based in Detroit; and Quo, a Cleveland business. The officials explained why they chose to launch their businesses in those cities instead of California. Twenty-three year old Abess Makki is the founder of CityInsight. His business receives support from an organization called TechTown, which is connected with a local university. Amit Patel and Naman Desai set up Quo with the help of LaunchHouse, an incubator that helps people turn ideas into businesses. LaunchHouse makes money by renting office space and investing in the companies it helps to start. Both TechTown and LaunchHouse help people who have ideas, but are not business experts, get started. For example, TechTown helps people write up business plans, decide how to offer shares of their company to investors and prepare sales talks for new clients. "And that’s I think is the biggest thing that TechTown did for me. Is actually take everything I did and help me put it together. Sort of like, I had the paint, the brush, the canvas. But, you know, they helped me make the painting, and that’s a huge part." Makki said his connection with TechTown kept him from making mistakes that caused problems for other businesses. Ned Staebler is the chief executive officer of TechTown. He said his company goes beyond other organizations that are known as incubators. “A lot of places that will teach you the nuts-and-bolts of opening up a retail business. We have an eight-week retail bootcamp. But after that, we’ll actually help you go through the permitting process. We’ll help you get your architect in and your financing done. It’s not just a ‘come and take a class and then see you later.’ We really act as consultants all the way through the process.” Abess Makki said TechTown helped him meet business experts who could help solve problems. That was important when he was signing an agreement to work with the city of Detroit. CityInsight is trying to make it easier for governments and local utility companies to connect with their citizens and customers. CityInsight has an app, or software program, which gives customers real-time information about their water usage. That way, when people are asked to pay for their water usage every three or four months, they are not surprised by the amount they owe. “In Detroit, there’s a high illiteracy rate. So we want to make sure people understand their water bill. Not just through words, but through graphics and through images. And once they understand that, we’ll feel more comfortable giving the people their bills. And feeling safe that they understand where it came about.” Water is an important subject in Michigan. The city of Flint was in the news this year after studies showed its water supply contained lead. Patel grew up near Cleveland. So he felt at ease starting his business there. His company, Quo, helps people find housing to rent. Quo works with people who are neighborhood experts. Then it connects those experts with people who are trying to find a place to live. If the expert helps someone find a home, then Quo gets paid. Patel says Cleveland was a good place for his start-up because the city offers different kinds of housing. There are apartments in large buildings in the city, and smaller apartment buildings nearby. But in addition to housing, Cleveland is a good place for tech businesses because many college-educated people live there. “Cleveland, if you look at some of the universities here in the area, Case Western provides the top-notch engineers, computer science folks in the country for the Midwest region. You’ll see a lot of resources, folks come out of that university along with Cleveland State, John Carroll, Akron and Kent. You’ll see a lot of strong engineers that come out of there where they’re craving the excitement of joining a start-up. And so finding resources in Cleveland is not an issue at all. In fact, you find smarter resources here at a lower cost given the cost of living is significantly less than Silicon Valley. You’re able to find sharp people here.” People who are good at writing computer code or designing websites are moving to cities in states like Michigan, Ohio or Nebraska. They can still work remotely for Silicon Valley companies, but they are able to live more relaxed lives. At the same time, in places like Cleveland, people are starting businesses in hopes of having more control over their careers. Makki looked for his first job as a teenager, and did not have much luck. That period of time taught him that he should create a business instead of just finding a job, and that is what he is doing. “When I was coming up, it was more of the recession period. And most of us around, all the guys my age, we couldn’t find jobs anywhere. When I mean anywhere, anywhere. We were willing to do anything, but that was a really bad time. I cannot afford to depend on something that’s not always going to be there...” I’m Dan Friedell. And I'm Caty Weaver.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think about starting a tech business outside of Silicon Valley? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   boast – v. to take pride in something entrepreneur – n. a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money eager – adj. very excited and interested seed-stage – n. at the start of something venture – n. a new activity, project, business, etc., that typically involves risk incubator – n. an organization or place that helps in the development of new businesses nuts-and-bolts – n. the main parts of a project utility – n. a service (such as a supply of electricity or water) that is provided to the public — usually plural pro – n. an argument for something : a reason to do something — usually plural density – n. the amount of something in a particular space or area rent – adv. money that you pay in return for being able to use property and especially to live in an apartment, house, etc., that belongs to someone else consultant – n. a person who gives professional advice or services to companies for a fee remotely – adv. from a distance relaxed – adj. calm and free from stress, worry, or anxiety : not worried or tense customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business

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Everyday Grammar: Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

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Lesson 39: It’s Unbelievable!

Summary Anna sees an ad for a hair product on television. Her friend Pete is in the ad, so she believes that the product is a good one. She learns that she cannot believe everything she sees in television ads. Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about using negative prefixes with adjectives.​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about the pronunciation of the words "comfortable" and "uncomfortable." Conversation Anna: Hello! Winter weather in Washington, D.C. can be really windy. And wind messes up my hair. It is really windy today. Look at my hair. Will it be windy this weekend? I’ll listen to the news. I am tired of my untidy hair. Pete: Are you tired of your untidy hair? Anna: Yes. Yes, I am. And it’s … uncomfortable. Pete: Is it … uncomfortable? Anna: Yes. Yes, it is! Hey, is that … Pete? Pete: Hi. I’m Pete. And I have the perfect product for you -- Hair Be Good! Pete: Just spray Hair Be Good on your hair … wrap in a towel … and you are done! Hair Be Good works and it’s inexpensive. One can costs only $10! So, go online and order your Hair Be Good today! Anna: Hair Be Good sounds perfect! And I can trust Pete! I am buying some right now. Okay, I will order one can of Hair Be Good for $10. I’ll pay with a credit card. My delivery will arrive in 2 days. Awesome! Anna: It arrived! I'll use it before I go to work. Okay, Hair Be Good, make my untidy hair tidy! No, make it … fabulous! Amelia: Hi, Anna. Anna: Hello, Amelia! Amelia: Anna, you look … different. Anna: Thanks! I used a new product called Hair Be Good. Amelia: Well, it’s not. Anna: It’s not what? Amelia: Good. Your hair does not look good. Anna: Oh, no! This is not good. Amelia: Why don’t you go home and take care of … this. Anna: Good idea. Pete: Hi, Anna! Anna: Hello, Pete. Pete: Is something wrong? Anna: This is wrong! Pete: What did you do to your hair? Anna: Hair Be Good did this to my hair. Pete: Ah, you bought it! Anna: Yes, I bought it. You said in your ad it was a perfect product. This is not perfect. This is imperfect! Pete: It’s unbelievable! Anna: I believed your ad, Pete. It was dishonest! Pete: Anna, you don’t believe everything you see in ads, do you? Anna: No, Pete. Just the ones with my friends. Pete: Your hair will be okay. Just wash it ... a couple of times. Anna: Thanks. Thanks a lot, Pete! Here, here's your product! You should call it "Hair Be Really Bad!" Until next time, Pete! Till next time. Writing In this lesson, Anna believed an ad she saw on television. It was not a good decision. Do you believe the ads you see on television? Why or why not? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about ads. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Asking Questions to Clarify.  When we try to get more information we ask clarification questions. The information may help us to better understand others. In this lesson, Anna asks Amelia to clarify.  Amelia says, "Anna, you look … different." Anna thinks she looks great. She tells Amelia about the new hair product: "Thanks! I used a new product called Hair Be Good." When Amelia says, "Well, it’s not," Anna asks a question to clarify: "It’s not what?" Amelia clarifies, or explains her meaning: "Good. Your hair does not look good." Do you ever ask questions to clarify when you speak English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words can - n.a closed metal container that is usually shaped like a cylinder and that holds food, drink, or other liquids delivery - n. something that is taken to a person or place or something that is delivered dishonest - adj. not honest: such as saying or likely to say things that are untrue imperfect - adj. having mistakes or problems or not perfect fabulous - adj. very good inexpensive - adj. low in price o rnot expensive order - v. to place an order for (something): such asto request (something) from a company product - n. something that is made or grown to be sold or used spray - v. to put a stream of small drops of liquid on (someone or something) tidy - adj. clean and organized or not messy towel - n. a piece of cloth used for drying things unbelievable - adj. difficult or impossible to believe uncomfortable - adj. causing a feeling of physical or mental discomfort untidy - adj. not neat or clean wrap - v. to cover (something) by winding or folding a piece of material around it ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about advertisements. For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Adjectives with negative prefixes (in-, un-, dis-, im-) Topics: Shopping online, Interpreting factual statements; Critical thinking about advertisements Learning Strategy: Ask questions to clarify or get more information Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using negative prefixes with adjectives; Pronouncing "comfortable" and "uncomfortable."   ____________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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Acceptance of Torture During War is Growing

  A new study has found changes in public opinion on the issue of torture and its use to get “important military information.” The study found that the percentage of people who felt torture was a useful tool increased in 16 countries over a 17-year period. The approval rate this year was 36 percent, compared to 28 percent in 1999. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organized the survey and reported the findings. Researchers questioned more than 17,000 people between June and September of 2016. Most of those questioned were from countries in conflict. Other subjects lived in Switzerland or the five permanent members of the United Nations: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. Morally Wrong The president of the ICRC, Peter Maurer, says the results were troubling. "The percentage of those who think it is acceptable to torture a captured enemy combatant in order to obtain important military information has risen from 28 to 36 percent today in the poll. Even more shocking, only slightly less than half of the people - 48 percent as of this year - believe this behavior is wrong compared to 66 percent in the 1999 survey."        However, Maurer said he felt more hopeful after seeing the answers to other survey questions. Eighty percent of those surveyed believed that wars should have limits, and that fighters should not target civilians. The same percentage also believed that attacking hospitals, emergency medical vehicles, and health care workers as a way to weaken the enemy is wrong. Maurer noted that torture is illegal under international humanitarian law. “Torture is wrong,” he said, adding that it can harm communities for generations. The ICRC president recently met with military officials in Russia. He told VOA that he did not find anyone in Moscow or Washington who thought that torture works. He said that not only is torture morally wrong, but it also is not effective in finding the truth. Empathy to human suffering The survey also found that people living in the Security Council’s permanent members were more likely to accept civilian deaths than people from areas affected by war. In the five, only 50 percent of people said that it was wrong to attack enemy fighters in populated areas, “knowing that many civilians would be killed.” In nations affected by war, 78 percent said that this was wrong. Maurer observed that the closer people were to a conflict, the more they believed in the importance of respecting international humanitarian law.  He added that living far from the realities of warfare makes it easier for people to be disconnected than having to see horrible images from war all the time. According to Maurer, the most import point of the survey results is that “we must not lose our empathy and become numb to human suffering.” I’m Phil Dierking.   Lisa Schlein reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her report for Learning English. ­­­­­George Grow was the editor. Do you feel that torture is sometimes necessary to find helpful information in times of war? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   combatant – n. a person, group, or country that fights in a war or battle. empathy – n. the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions. numb – adj. unable to think, feel, or react normally because of something that shocks or upsets you. obtain – v. to gain or get. survey – n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information.

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Foreign Medical Students Face Difficulties in the U.S.

  International students seeking a medical degree in the United States face serious difficulties. First, there is often a language barrier. Students from non-English speaking countries could have a hard time understanding their work or communicating with professors. Also, a medical education is very costly. First, students must complete an undergraduate degree. Then, most medical schools require at least four years of study. After medical school, students do at least three more years of training in their specific medical fields. They do receive some pay for this work. In addition, many medical programs at public universities in the U.S. do not accept international students. And private universities have fewer openings, creating a great deal of competition. However, receiving a medical education in the U.S. is not impossible. Fatima Ismail is proof. The 32-year-old from Dubai says she knew she wanted to be a doctor at a very early age. "I was always fascinated by the brain and how it functions. And I love working with children. There is a huge population of children with developmental disabilities that are not taken care of very well in Middle East in general and my home country, in particular." So, Ismail completed medical school in her home country. Then, she applied to a residency program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Ismail spent time as an exchange student at Johns Hopkins during her time in medical school. She says many of her fellow students applied to more than 10 or even 20 different programs. "It’s a very competitive process. Being an international medical school graduate you … have less chances to be accepted because the priority would be for the U.S. graduates. Having said that, it’s not impossible. All that you need to do is, basically, early planning..." Planning is highly important for foreign students seeking admission to U.S. medical schools. Paul White is the director for medical school admissions at Johns Hopkins. He says some schools do accept students with undergraduate degrees from their home countries. But most, he says, require U.S. study. "So we say we want to see at least one year of additional coursework in any area in the U.S. just so we can see the kinds of courses they are capable of taking and how well they may perform in those courses. And there’s no question that if they do well in the U.S., and they do well on the medical college’s admissions test, then they’ll be eligible for admission..." India native Karum Arora is in his fourth year of medical school at Johns Hopkins. He studies eye diseases. He also completed his undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins, as well as a two-year research program in his field. Arora says the professors he knew in his earlier studies helped him gain acceptance to the medical school. "I can’t even express in words how great my mentors were during those two years. And they were at Hopkins as well, and they both supported me when I applied for med school, guided me through medical school, worked on projects … and are supporting me now as I apply for residency as well." School administrators suggest international students should apply to residency programs in the U.S. after completing medical school at home. Or they should begin their American medical education at the undergraduate level. But, officials say, even candidates with the strongest history of study will face fierce competition. I’m Pete Musto.   Linda Ringe reported on this story for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted her report for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. How difficult is the process to become a doctor in your country? How common is it for medical students from your country to study in the U.S.? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   specific – adj. special or particular fascinate(d) – v. to cause someone to be very interested in something or someone applied – v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writing priority – n. the condition of being more important than something or someone else and therefore coming or being dealt with first eligible – adj. able to be chosen for something mentor(s) – n. someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person

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US Health Report: E-Cigarettes Not Safe for Young People

  The United States’ top health official says electronic cigarettes can cause health problems for young people. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released his first report on e-cigarettes this week. He called the devices a public health threat to America’s youth.  The surgeon general is the U.S. government’s top medical officer. He uses scientific information to give the best advice for improving health and reducing the risk of sickness and injury. Most electronic cigarettes use nicotine, a chemical found in tobacco plants, just like traditional cigarettes. But users do not light e-cigarettes because they are powered by a battery. They usually also contain flavoring and other chemicals.   E-cigarettes have increasingly grown in popularity nationwide since 2010. Officials say the devices are now the most used tobacco product by American youth and young adults. In releasing the report, Surgeon General Murthy said the rising popularity of e-cigarettes is hurting past efforts to reduce tobacco use among young people. “It also threatens 50 years of hard-fought progress that we have made curbing tobacco use. And it places a whole new generation at risk for addiction to nicotine...” He also said the new report is meant to help families and communities understand the scientific reasons why e-cigarettes are harmful. “The message from the report is clear. Nicotine-containing products in any form, including e-cigarettes, are not safe for youth.” The Surgeon General’s report notes that nicotine is a highly addictive chemical. Users can develop a dependence on the drug. The report says nicotine can harm brain development in teenagers and young adults. Murthy said those harmful effects can include deficits in attention and learning, reduced impulse control, and mood disorders.    The report notes research showing that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to use traditional cigarettes. It also found that chemicals sent into the air by e-cigarettes can harm the users and people around them. Supporters of e-cigarette use have suggested that the devices can help smokers of traditional cigarettes cut back or even stop smoking. But Murthy said there is no evidence to back up this claim. He said millions more children are now being exposed to nicotine through e-cigarettes. Murthy noted that he is keeping “an open mind” to see if future evidence proves that e-cigarettes can help adults stop smoking. The report calls for restrictions on the amount of advertising used in e-cigarette ad campaigns. It also urges national educational programs to inform young people about the risks of the devices. The surgeon general said U.S. officials need to act now to help create a healthy, tobacco-free generation. In a public service video message, Murthy gives a strong warning to parents. “You’re kids are not an experiment. Protect them from e-cigarettes.” I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   flavoring – n. something added to provide taste curb – v. to limit or control nicotine – n. a poisonous, addictive substance in tobacco impulse – n. sudden strong desire to do something mood disorder – n. a problem affecting someone’s emotional health

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You Can't Go Home Again. And Other 'Home' Expressions.

  Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. On this program we explore the origins and uses of common words and expressions in American English. Today we talk about a word that is a feeling as well as a place. That word is “home.” Long ago in the 1700s, “home” was used as a verb, meaning “to be guided to a destination.” So, when you home in on something you get closer to your target. For example, you could say, “Police are homing in on the suspects." That is also where we get homing pigeons -- pigeons that can find their way home after being released. But today, “home” is more often used as a noun. And it has a very emotional connection for American English speakers. You can remember the meaning of the word by the expression “home is where the heart is.” That expression means home is anywhere you feel love and comfort. It is a place where you belong, and often a place you consider your origin. You can also simply the carry of feeling of home with you -- that is, a feeling of love and loyalty to your family and places that are dear to you. In other words, “home” is not simply a building where you live -- that’s a house. There is a big difference between a house and a home. Writer Lord Byron expressed this thought in his long poem Don Juan. He enter'd in the house - his home no more, For without hearts there is no home; and felt The solitude of passing his own door Without a welcome Simply said, a house is not a home. Another writer, Thomas Wolfe, had a different idea about home. In 1940, his book “You Can’t Go Home Again” was published. This title has worked its way into the English language. We use it to mean that the ideas and feelings you had as a child often change when you are an adult. So, even if you return to the place where you grew up, time and distance have changed your perspective. You may not be able to re-create even your closest relationships. Rock-n-roll singer Jon Bon Jovi does not agree with this expression. In this song he and Jennifer Nettles sing “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” What they mean is yes, they can go back to a childhood home and be perfectly happy. This is especially true if you've become successful and have made a lot of money. Some people find that returning to a childhood place brings only joy and delight. When these people return to their childhood homes, they may say "Home Sweet Home!" Of course, you can say this anywhere. A single woman living alone in her first apartment may come home after a tough day at work and sigh, “Ah, home sweet home!” If she loves her apartment she might also say: “There’s no place like home.” There’s no place like home is a famous line repeated over and over by the character of Dorothy in the classic American film “The Wizard of Oz.” She learns that she did not need to leave her home in order to find what she was seeking. Dorothy’s adventures ended right back in Kansas, where she was from. But what about those people who must stay away from their homes for a long time? They still want to feel connected to a place they can depend on. Hotels know this about travelers. Many advertise that they will be a home away from home. This expression describes a place where everything is familiar and comfortable. Friends can also give you a home away from home. When you visit them, they may say to you: “Make yourself at home!” This common expression means someone wants you to feel relaxed and welcome. However, let’s say you make yourself too at home. You eat everything in the refrigerator! Your friend then may say, “I’m happy to have you stay, but please don’t eat me out of house and home!”  Sometimes, when we travel for a long time -- especially if we are in a strange place -- we can begin to feel sad. We miss our friends, family and usual environment so much that we become homesick. Some people become so unsettled when they are away from home that they quit leaving the house altogether. They become homebodies. A homebody usually prefers to do things quietly around the house -- such as cook or knit or sit by the fire reading a book. For a homebody, going out night after night or visiting a busy city for a long period of time would be a nightmare. But you don’t have to be a homebody to relax and enjoy a peaceful moment -- no matter where you are. For example, let’s say you have been working on a stressful assignment for a year. Now, the work is almost done. You can say you are in the home stretch. This expression comes from horse racing. Horses in the home stretch are near the finish line. So, if you are in the home stretch of a very long project, you are almost finished. In fact, we are in the home stretch of this episode of Words and Their Stories. We are at the last paragraph. So, we bring us on home with another song about home. That is something musicians say when they are finishing a performance. I’m Anna Matteo.     Anna Matteo wrote this Words and Their Stories. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. The song at the end is Sheryl Crow singing “Home.” _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   comfort – n. contented well-being origin – n. the place, social situation or type of family that a person comes from solitude – n. a state or situation in which you are alone usually because you want to be perspective – n. a mental view or prospect; point of view delight – n. a high degree of gratification familiar – adj. being free and easy; marked by informality comfortable – adj. free from stress or tension relaxed – adj. being at rest or at ease; easy of manner; informal nightmare – n. something (as an experience, situation or object) having the monstrous character of a nightmare or producing a feeling of anxiety or terror

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English in a Minute: Dog Eat Dog

Dogs are popular pets in many countries. But, this expression sounds terrible! Find out what a "dog eat dog" world is like in this week's English in a Minute.

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